Automatic valve



E. B. TlDD AUTOMATIC VALVE April z, 1946.

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Patented Apr. 2, 1946 AUTOMATIC VALVE Edwin B. Tidd, Mount Prospect,Ill., assignor to Bell & Gossett Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporationof Illinois Original application October 31, 1941, Serial No.

1943, Serial N0. 489,119

1 Claim.` (Cl. 137-122) My invention relates tok automatic air valvesfor use with devices which require the discharge or admission of airfrom or thereto andY is primarily concerned with providing a valve whichis characterized by a more efficient, sensitive and positive action.

By way of example, my invention will be described as a vent forradiators or any portion of the piping of a hot Water heating systemfrom which air must be discharged intermittently. In present types ofautomatic vents, the usual construction includes a float actuated valvein which the valve is closed by the rise of water in the valve housingacting on the iloat and opened by gravity action of the float when thewater recedes. It has been ascertained that such a valve occasionallysticks to its seat or only partially opens and thus prevents free andadequate venting of the air. This condition is primarily due to thelight weight of the float and associated parts which is the onlyeffective force tending to withdraw the valve from its seat, but thisforce is partially counterbalanced by the boiler pressure acting on thefloat and valve. The opening action of the vent is accordingly apt to besluggish or non-positive.

It is therefore the principal object of my invention to devise an airvent which is completely positive in action, embodies a minimum of movling parts, and is characterized by a more powerful action than floatoperated vents.

A further object is to provide a vent of the y character indicated inwhich the valve is closed by the pressure of a static head of water andmechanically biased to an open position.

A further object is to devise a valve provided with a diaphragm in whichthe position of the valve depends upon the weight of water imposed onthe diaphragm- These and further objects of my invention will be setforth in the following specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, and the novel means by which said objects areeffectuated will be more definitely pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved valve.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic layout of a water system showing theapplication of the valve illustrated in Fig. l as a means forintroducing air into the system to break a condition of partial vacuum.

It will be understood that the invention is not Divided and thisapplication May 31,

restricted to the discharge from or admission of air to a connecteddevice, but comprehends broadly the venting or admission of a gaseousmedium under the control of a weight of liquid applied to a diaphragmwhich is operatively associated with a valve.

Referring to Figs, l and 2, the numeral 3| desigy nates a valve casingwhich is composed of an upper tubular member 32 whose upper end isclosed while the lower end is outwardly flanged as at 33'. The lowerpart of the casing 3| is formed by an open ended, tubular member 34whose upper end is also outwardly iianged as at 35, the peripheralportions of the flanges 33 and 35 being abutted and clampingtherebetween a diaphragm 36. As indicated in the drawing, the innermostportions of the flanges 33 and 35 are offset from their respectiveperipheries to provide operative clearance for the diaphragm. Thediaphragm may be composed of any suitable thin, metallic material andthen it is preferably bowed slightly above the horizontal plane.However, the diaphragm may be composed of other materials, such asrubber, natural or synthetic, and in such a case, the diaphragm wouldnormally occupy a horizontal position. Further, the diaphragm is deemedto be the equivalent of any movable Wall, including pistons, bellows andthe like.

Secured to the diaphragm 36 in coaxial relation to the member 32 is atube 31 whose 'outer diameter is less than the internal diameter of themember 32 to thereby define a passage 38 which communicates by way ofv ahollow, lateral extension 39 with any desired part of a hot waterheating system such as a radiator 4l). The upper end of the tube 31 isopen, terminates short of the upper end of the member 32', and isoutwardly Iianged'as at 4| to provide guiding contact with the member 32as the diaphragm 36 flexes. Communication between the interior of thetube 31 and the passage 38 is provided by a vseries of notches 42 cutinwardly around the ilange 4|. The interior of the tube 31 and member 34communicate through a series of ports 43 in the tube 31 and the lowerend of the latter carries a depending nger 44 whose lower end isoperably related to a valve 45 carried by the upper end of a stem 46that extends loosely through a passage 41 in a sleeve 48 that rests upona nut 49 threaded internally of the member 34. If desired, a rubberbushing 50 may be disposed between the sleeve 4 8 and member 34 toprovide a leak proof structure at this point. The upper end of thepassage 41 constitutes a port 5| which is controlled by the valve 45 andthis passage is continued through the lower end bears against a nut 54also threaded ,internally of the member 34.

The valve structure just described may be of the type ordinarily'employed' in pneumatic tires.

As the above device soriginally made, the;- valvev 45 uncovers the port5I' due to the extending acftion f the spring 53,` the nger 44 .beingdis-V posed a sufficient distance above the valve 45 to .l

permit the latter Ybeing thus raised.

In describing the operation ot the valve', it will be assumed thatthe'severalportions occupy: thepositions illustrated in Fig. 1 and thatthe valve Vis connected to the radiator 4tV formingpart of Y, anunlled,hot water heating system.. As water is introduced into the system,V Vairis driven throughY the extension' 39, thence upwardly through thepassage 38 and downwardlythrough the tube 31,. ports.43. and member 34from whence the.V air is vented through the port 5|. Eventuase'moe Y iall-y, the water rises in the passage 38. to a point generally indicatedby the numeral 55. and at this 1 time the pressure exerted by the headof water in the passageA 38 is sufficient to move the dia- I phragm 36downwardly and close. the valve 45- It will be understood that theheight of the mem- Y tube 31.

bier 32 isv sorelated to. the size of the diaphragm Y When the system isfired, additional air and y gas wil-l be expelled from the water in thesystem and4 will collect above the surface of the wa-V ter in thepassage 38,V thereby driving the water in the passage downwardly untilthe head of water inthe passage has been decreased sufficiently toperm-itthe diaphragm 36 to` flex upwardly towards its, original positionand at this time the y, valve 45 willY open to' vent the accumulated airand gas.r

This condition occurs intermittently and automatically duringoperationofthe system and requires no manual controlling to effect theventing action.

VIn. Figg is shownra diagrammatic layoutv of a water system Yfor amultistory building and illustrates the applicaticnof a valve shown inFig. l

Y Vas a means for introducing air into, the system,

. asy distinguished. from the venting action alv ready described. Inthis arrangement, the nucated Vby the numeral 60 and is located at anupperpoint in the system, the extension 39 (see Fig. 1) providing aconnection between the valve structure and the system proper.`

vIn normal operation,I the pump in the basement maintains sufficientpressure in the system lto insure adequate flowat the; upper iloors, butin the event. of a sudden and extensive. draw of water at a loweroor,there is a tendency to Vreduce the pressure in the upper stories toa point where a partial vacuum is created and this condition may causewater from the sanitary devices to be discharged' into the. drinkingfaucets. With my construction, howevenit is possible to immediate- 1ylbreak this condition, because, referring to Fig. 1, the underside. ofthe valve 45 is always exposed to atinlospheric Pressure plus thepressure providedby the,` spring 53. Hence, when a partial vacuumcondition occurs in the extension 39, the diaphragm 36 will beimmediately moved upward to;` cause an, opening of the valve 45 andl an,in-

troduction into the system of a quantity of atmospheric. air. Y

For any given operating condition, it will4 be necessary to properlyrelate. the diaphragm diameter tothe height of the member 32 order toinsure that the latter will contain a head of water sufficient todownwardly flex the. dia

phragm 36. Moreover, thesev factors must also be properlyl related tothe valve 45 so that the K' latter may open freelyb under the/conditionjust described. Y

This application is a division of my original application, filed.October 31, ,1941, Serial No. 417,327.

1 claim:

Anautomaticvalve structure fer controlling ing 'means for closing thevalve when dei'ected downwardly, the casing above the Wall eonstitutinga. chamber communicating with the inlet intermediate the ends ofsaidchamber to receive Water therefrom and'there being an air ventingconnection between the chamber at a point, adjacent they upper' endY'thereof and the venting aperture, wherebythe valve closes whenaprecie- Vtermined head 'of water restsV on the wall 'less than theheightof `the venting connection above the wall. Y Y

, EDWIN B. ',IIDD.

